A Careful Study on 


_ Roofs and Fires 





-—~ 


eas 





»‘*Every three minutes 


a house catches fire.’ 


How & 22" Fire 


Copyright, 1910 
GENUINE BANGOR SLATE CO, 
Easton, Pennsylvania 


‘(81083 pes yng ‘orojoqY JON) “OOFxKoYA] Jo J[N| 


24} 0} J9pi0g ueIPeURs oY} UI0I3 sosnoy Bur 


-uingq jo oul] v sjueserdes yy *("OJ]) SINOT] “1G 


jo ozis ey} A}ID v ur osnoy A19A9 suvoU 3] 
{suvoul }I yeYM OzITeo1 NOA UBD 
j ely Yoyeo sosnoy QOO‘S9L 41v2e4 ouO Uy 





Fire Damage and Danger 


Why let your house catch fire? Sounds 
brutal, but you will thank us for asking. 
The fire protection of your home is well 
worth thinking over; for every three 


minutes a house catches fire in 
this country—165,o00 of them in 1907, 
almost as many houses as were built 
in that year. 


Our fire epidemic is increasing every 
year. In 1908 it amounted to $237,000,- 
ooo, according to the Fire Underwriters. 
This is property actually gone up in 
smoke. 

In addition, we paid about $342,000,- 
ooo for insurance premiums*—making a 
total fire burden of $579,000,000. 


The Insurance Companies paid back for fire 
indemnities some $135,000,000. But this is 
more than offset by the incalculable death 
loss through fire, the cost of fire departments 
or other fire protection, and the tremendous 
loss through interrupted plans and business. 

“$579,000,000 fire burden! Incredible!” 
you say; “there are not many fires in our town 
during the year. I don’t see many. I don’t 
read of many.”’ 

This attitude is natural. But remember—— 

You are not apt to hear of any but big fires 
elsewhere. It takes only a few seconds to snuff 


*Do not blame the Insurance Companies for that. 
They are business institutions entitled to a reasonable 
profit. And their’s is mighty small, considering that con- 
flagrations like the Baltimore and San Francisco fires wipe 
out the earnings and surplus gathered for a generation. The 
blame rests entirely with the builders for using combustible 
material. 

I 


out human lives ; only a few minutes to destroy 
the savings of a life-time; only a few hours 
to burn up property worth millions of dollars, 

Our annual fire burden is so enormous 
that we can grasp its very amare only 
by comparison. 


It exceeded in 1908— 


The running expenses of the Federal 
Government for the same year ($555,- 
000,000. ) 


The combined assessed property valu- . 
ation of Arkansas, Alabama, Nevada, New 
Mexico and Oklahoma. 


The production of gold in the last 8 
years,—about $500,000,000. 


The value of new buildings during the 
year was about $1,000,000,000. 
We paid about one-half of that for fire 
burden. 

Nor do we learn by experience. The num- 
ber and value of our buildings increase with 


the years. So does the fire loss, as shown by 
the following table of 


Fire Losses in the United States in the 
Past 28 Years. 


Year Fire Loss Population 

1880 $94,000,000.00 50,000,000 
1890 101,000,000,00 63,000,000 
1900 137,000,000.00 76,000,000 
1908 237,000,000.00 87,000,000 





Increase in population since 1880. 735% 
Increase in fire loss since 1880....134% 
Almost double the increase in popula: 
tion. 


2 


Of course, the figures are only a partial 
indication of fire damage. Mere dollars 
and cents can give no idea of the thou- 
sands of cases of heart-rending anguish 
and suffering caused every year by death 
or injury through fire. 


The United States Geological Survey 
reports from this cause in 1908, 1449 
deaths and 5654 people injured. This is 
only a partial list; for the report says: 


“These figures are 
incomplete and do not 
Tepresent more than 
®. one-half the persons 
who were victims of 
the fires. Many fire 
chiefs of large cities 
fail to report any 
deaths because they 
could not be properly 
included in their an- 
nual reports. The number of persons killed 
and injured here is from five to seven times 
greater than in Europe. The cause of this gain 
is faulty construction of buildings in many in- 
stances.” 





What makes this danger all the more 
terrible is its suddenness. No onecan 
tell when and where it is going to strike 
next. Even the dreadful Black Hand 
gives warning. Fire does not. 


3 


What the Fire Loss Really Means 


to Your Pocketbook 


Who has to pay this $500,000,000 fire bur- 
den every year? The public at large which 
means you and me. 

It is not only the insurance policies you pay. 
On every article you buy, you pay three 
insurance premiums. 

The manufacturer must include the cost of 
his fire insurance in the cost of his goods. So 
does the jobber when they reach him. So 
does the retailer. 

If you pay rent, the latter is high enough to 
reimburse the owner for the insurance. 





According to insurance statistics, the fire 
burden in this country averages $3 per head. 
That means that the father of a family of 
five is taxed $15 per year. 


4 


The Remedy 


The yearly per capita loss by fire averages 





12c. in Italy, 49c. in Germany. Here it is $3. 


The reason for this difference is 
500Ft, | ,. 
flimsy, combustible construction. 
LUMBER ar 
USED The lumber habit is so prevalent 
PerHEAD| | here that—even with the cost 
Per YEAR} | of wood doubled in the past ten 
in U.S.| | years—61% of all new buildings 
in 1907 were frame. 





In Europe, combustible walls and roofs 
are not permitted,—even in small com- 
munities. Why not also here? This 
would considerably relieve the situation; 
for most of the fire losses are due to 
‘¢ outside fire contagion’? (exposure haz- 
ard). 


See Bulletin 324 of the United States Geo- 
logical Survey: 


Page 153: “Of the building’s entire fire risk 
that from fire within the building is estimated 
on an average at 40%; the other 60% of the 
risk being from exterior fires.” 


Page 154: “While the fire danger from ex- 
terior fires to buildings is originally estimated 
at 60%, the risk practically becomes 100% in 
the course of a great conflagration.” 


Page 157: “Roofs, roof appurtenances, and 
skylights should be given ample protection 
from fire without.” 


What about buildings 
in existence ? 


This is all very well for future build- 
ing. What about the millions of frame 
buildings in existence? To see what can 
be done with them, let us investigate fire 
causes, Perhaps they can be minimized. 


An analysis of the annual municipal 
fire reports of over 240 cities (See tabu- 
6 


lation on pages 17 to 22) proves that by 
far the largest percentage of fires are: 


A—Chimney or flue fires, threatening 
roofs. 


B—Roof fires caused by sparks from 
chimneys, chimney fires, smoke stacks, 
locomotives, flue fires and other fires. 


For example: 

The annual report of the City of St. Louis, 
Mo., for the year 1905, shows fires from 89 
different causes, 4 of which are under the 
above two classifications. This leaves 85 other 
causes of fires to make up the 82% of the 
total fires not. affecting roofs. In other words, 
the other fire causes average about 1% of the 
total number of fires; as against 18% of fires 
originating in, or directly affecting, roofs. 


The Philadelphia fire report for 1906 shows 
45 causes, of which 41 did not affect roofs. The 
roof and chimney fires claim 18% of the total; 
so that the remaining 82% average 2% for 
each of the 41 other causes. 

The New York fire report for 1906, shows 42 
different causes of fires. Of these, 4 are in- 
cluded in the above “roof percentage,” leaving 
38 other fire causes,—an average of 2% for 
each. 

The Chicago fire report for 1906, shows 62 
causes other than those affecting the roof, an 
average of about 1 1-3% for each other cause. 

This proportion is even greater in most other 
communities, as shown by the following table. 


7 


Percentage of chimney, flue and roof fires 


to the total fires in one year.! 


New York, N. Y. -10% | Eau Claire, Wis. -.39% 
Chicago, Ill....... 15% | LaCrosse, Wis.---39% 
Philadelphia, Pa..18% | Louisville, Ky. .-.39% 
St. Louis, Mo. ...18% | Shreveport, La...40% 


Minneapolis, Vancouver, B. C. .42% 
Minn. ......... 18% | Norwich, Conn. --45% 
Salt Lake City, Tacoma, Wash, --50% 
Utah; 20. aes 20% | Wilmington, N.C.55% 
Racine, Wis..---- 24% | Stillwater, Minn. 60% 


Plainfield, N. J. ..28% | Concord, N. H....62% 
Savannah, Ga....31% | Paterson, N. J.---63% 
Topeka, Kans....32% | Chattanooga, 
San Francisco, Tenn... ss. 68% 

Cal. ..-......-- 36% | South Bend, Ind..75% 
Elizabeth, N. J.-.38% 


It is very significant that these per- 
centages of roof or roof-threatening fires 
are highest in cities where shingles or 
other inflammable roofings are known to 
predominate. 


1 As the various fiscal years covered by the municipal re- 
ports are not confined between uniform calendar months 
(some start with January, others with April, others with 
November, etc.) it was impossible to compile these statis- 
tics for one calendar year. But in each case the figures cover 
a period of twelve successive months. 


10ns 


favor of slate roofs, when we exclude 
tabulat 


The strength of comparison increases 
the chimney fires as shown by the follow- 


in 
ing 


QI Z 0 “0 6%. St If 428> Git &-o---- digg teu] 
0 oO 


a. SL § LS BQ cttte ee --eg‘uojseq | Serg Aoumryo 
ueq} snorem 


or £ OL £ S$ ob SL PS eh vere PUL BASE TINoS. -nU sset qonur 
£1 € G8 St #g St 6r CF br -+-+ +--oMO ‘WOrAY | garry yooy 
gz zt 0 0 Ket 6 St rr TL. ere eg SumoaTTy : 


‘I]BUIWMIOPeIg 0} UMOTY IP syooy a¥IS o10qM s9III9 


z€ ez eh Sz gf of bg aSt ++" KN ‘UO}sUIMIILM 
0 0 .Giz @p %L. bi (6% 9S SOL +*-uuay ‘aypIAxony solg 


be L£ Gee G6 g§ te Krv oz Lge -+-'epy ‘ayprauosyoef ¢ Aoumrgo pooo 
9° § LOK O06 ve zS .g9 OS Izz -*uuay, ‘eZoourzeYD | -X9 SeIg Jooy 
w7SCE HOS SSE Mer cl 1b, Gls GL B+ +--+. BE) ‘UQUETTY 
EGE 7 10g 2 32 HP 
0 BBE @ 3B Gg 8B gs pe oe 
o Fon DOS BA “RSs ons 
oo Bet fs. ee erst od ems OST a 
ae Be zo 
i=} i=] 
o m 
& & 


*O}VUTMOPIIg 0} UMOTY o1¥ SJooy sqvuuUlvpUy say So1zt9 


This record of fire protection by slate 
roofs agrees well with authorities like 
the following: 


“American Dictionary of Architecture,” 
Vol, 3, Page 263: 


“In a few cases of absolute incombus- 
tible construction, the slate or tiles are 
tied by lead wire to iron lath ....or in 
flat roofs, large slabs of slate or stone 
are bedded in cement.” 


The “American Contractor,’ issue of 
June ist, 1907, in speaking about the 
conflagration following the earthquake in 
San Francisco, says: 


“One of the lessons of the recent fire 
is, that if the buildings are to be made 
fireproof, they must have slate roofs. 
Comparatively few slate roofs have been 
placed on San Francisco buildings; but 
those which have them demonstrated 
their unquestionable superiority over all 
others.” 


Says “The, Country House, a practical 
manual for the planning and construction 
of the American Country Home and its 
surroundings’? : 


“In a locality where considerable wood 
abounds or where the nearness to other 
structures makes the flying sparks a 
menace, the question of slate roofs is not 
to be considered lightly. Under such cir- 
cumstances, it is unequaled by any other 
material.” 


10 


Says the roofing volume of “Illustrated 
Carpenter and Builder Series of Technical 
Manuals:” 

“The value of roofing material is de- 
termined by a variety of causes, among 
which the most important are: first- 
cost, durability, appearance, resistance to 
fire, and consequent influence on the cost 
of insurance, and the expense of main- 
tenance and repairs. We think it safe to 
say that nothing beats slate.” 

When you consider that the majority 
of “contagious” or exposure fires are 
caused by sparks descending from above, 
you will readily see that even in a frame 
house, the fire danger may be minimized 
by a slate roof. 

Fortunately a roof of Genuine Bangor 
Slate Co.’s slate, is desirable not only for 
its fire protection, but also for its other 
virtues. 

This is indirectly admitted by the mak- 
ers of other roofings when their claims 
are compared under the searchlight of 
logic. 

Tin or other metal roofs must be pro- 
tected by ‘‘mineral” paint. 

It is argued for composition, and patent 
or ready roofings, that their top or pro- 
tective layer is “mineral” (gravel, slag, 
flint, quartz, etc.) 

How much. better then, must be a 
“mineral-throughout” roofing, such as 
Genuine Bangor Slate Co.’s slate. Being 


II 


non-porous, hence non-absorbent, it re- 
quires no paint to prevent rust or de- 
cay. Nor does its beautiful blue-black, 
silky lustre require any paint for appear- 
ance. 


Every piece of slate is a separate unit, 
without grooves, locks or seams; thus 
furnishing a roof of unequalled elasticity, 
and unaffected by contraction or expan- 
sion from heat, cold, vibrations, etc. 


Fire Protection for those 
about to build 


Your architect would much rather de- 
sign for you a fireproof or fire-resisting 
building than a fire-feeding one. The 
difference in first cost seldom exceeds 
20%, for the former, and is more than 
made up by the lower insurance rates, 
freedom from repairs, better rent, etc. 


Fire-fighting buildings are built of in- 
combustible material, and as far as 
possible designed so as to afford only the 
minimum of draft for fire. Your arch- 
itect will be able to guide you in this 
matter. 


Suffice it to say that no matter how 
small your means, at least the walls and 
roof should be incombustible. 


Hollow spaces in partitions and under 
floors should be avoided, or counteracted 
with “fire stops” that shut off the draft. 


12 


The chimney should be used for chim- 
ney purposes only, and not as a column 
to support beams or any other load. 


Wherever possible stairways should be 
broken at each floor; that is, they should 
not form a fire-inviting flue from the 
ground to the top floor. 


Every-day Fire Precautions 


(You will find it worth while to keep this 
handy for frequent reference by the occupants 
of your buildings). 

Avoid ashes in wooden boxes, bins or on 
wooden floors; matches near stoves, ranges, 
gas jets, etc. Preferably use safety matches. 
Have metal or non-combustible receptacles for 
placing burnt matches. Keep matches so that 
mice, rats and children cannot get at them. 
Do not keep matches in the attic. 

Avoid open lights. Even candles should 
be enclosed in a glass chimney or lantern. 

Do not carry lamps unnecessarily from one 
room to another; lanterns are safer for such 
purposes. Fill, trim and clean lamps by day- 
light, or else by electric light. Keep lamps 
away from stoves, ranges or furnaces. 

See that curtains or draperies cannot be 
blown against the lamp, candle or gas jet. 

In. case of gas jets, see that side brackets 
are not too close to wall nor chandelier burners 
too close to ceiling. If the walls or ceilings 
are thus blackened it is a danger sign. 

Avoid kerosene, gasoline, etc., in the house 
as far as possible. 

Don’t use kerosene to help start the fire in 
the range or stove. 


Don’t use benzine with artificial light, except 
with electric light, nor in a room where there is 
a stove or range-fire. 


13 


Do not illuminate Christmas trees with any- 
thing but small electric lights. 


Wires for electric lights should be carefully 
inspected by experts from time to time. 


When you smell the gas leaking (unless it 
be very minor), do not strike a match until 
the room has been thoroughly aired, letting out 
the liberated gas. Shut off the gas imme- 
diately at the meter and send for the plumber 
or the Gas Company. Leaks in gas pipes can 
be temporarily stopped with soft soap. 


Do not place lamps or candles near the edge 
of tables or stands, and see that they will be 
out of the reach of children. 


Do not leave children alone in the house 
with fire in stove or any artificial light,—except’ 
electric light. 


Range: The range shouldn’t sit against any 
woodwork, and (unless the sides are exposed) 
should be backed and sided by brick or tile. 
Metal covered woodwork is not sufficient 
protection, as the heat conducted by the metal 
might char the woodwork and set it on fire. 


The range should be set on metal or stone 
base, and preferably be equipped with a flue to 
take care of the heated air. 


Avoid using stove polishes containing benzine 
or oil. 


When wearing garments with loose sleeves, 
keep away from open lights or fires. 


Do not keep clothing or wash near the fire 
over night. 


The furnace in the cellar should be suffi- 
ciently clear of the woodwork so that the latter 
will not char. It should stand on the ground 
or on a metal, stone or cement base. 


A wooden cellar floor should not come within 
five feet of the furnace. 


14 


Do not overheat furnace, range or stove. 


Where flues enter the walls, see that the 
pipes fit tightly, and are provided with non- 
combustible collars. 


Holes in the walls, partitions or chimneys 
should be promptly closed up. 


On every floor should be one or more 
fire buckets filled with water. Any ordi- 
nary bucket will answer. But it is im- 
portant to always have it filled and in the 
same place, so it can be found readily. 
The biggest blaze could have been put out with 
one bucket of water at the right time. If 
these buckets stand convenient to the stair- 
ways, they are easily available on any floor. 


To make them more sightly they may be 
painted or covered to harmonize with the gen- 
eral color scheme of furnishing. 


A rope with a suitable hook that readily, 
fastens on the window sill should be in every 
room above the ground floor. 


If you have a telephone in the house, see 
that every member of the family is familiar 
with the call number of the Fire Department, 
Also see that every one is familiar with the 
nearest fire call box. 


Fire Drills in schools, public institutions, on 
board ship, etc., are recommended as a neces- 
sity. Why not also in private residences and 
factories? 


Even the smallest families will benefit 
from fire drills by giving the members 
cooler heads in time of emergency. Dis- 
asters are generally the result of minds 
confused by danger. 


15 


What to do when facing fire 


In case of fire, shut doors and windows, to 
avoid drafts. 


When using fire extinguishers or fire buckets, 
pour the water at the highest point of the fire 
and work downwards; which will also be the 
natural course of the water. 


When curtains or draperies catch fire, pull 
them down quickly and smother the flames 
with woolen rugs or blankets. 


When your clothes catch fire, do not run, 
as the draft thus created will only feed the 
flames. Wrap yourself or have somebody wrap 
you in woolen blankets, carpets, etc. Flimsy 
cotton material is unsuitable, as it quickly 
blazes up. 


Oil fires cannot be quenched with water, but 
should be smothered with sand (from a handy 
flower pot), rugs, carpets, etc. 


In a smoke-filled room the air is clearest near 
the floor. In many cases crawling will enable 
you to live through it. 


16 


Percentage of Fires Affecting Roofs 
(From Municipal Annual Fire Reports‘) 


H 8 8a 

$258, fe bs gt 

4 gees ne wn g oH 

so 33 $ 89 te te ds 

BH SO Boe Oped Sh Ae bere 

TOWN BR Be & Of HO ON NO 
|Allentown, Pa.. 71 II 15.5 9 . 2 

O|Akron,O. ... 174 33 19.0 15 15 3 
OkaAlbany, N. Y. . 824 76 9.2 57 att, 

*Atlanta, Ga. .. 579 238 41.0 Ly lt, fa he 4 

*Aurora, Ill... . 99 28 28.2 8 10 9 4 

f§Augusta, Ga. . 287 166 57.8 24, 146 3 3 

fAltoona, Pa. . . 387 | 263 68.0 239 2 igs £3 3 

tAttleboro, Mass. 116 19 16.3 15 I I 2 

tAuburn, N.Y... 112 31) 27.4.7 ore 8 4 

yAmsterdam,N.Y. 91 9 9.8 vt I I 
tAppleton, Wis. . 98 a7 27.5 22 5 


yAnderson, Ind.. 119 49 41.0 35 140 Fos a 
*Birm’gham, Ala. 529 180 34.0 44 ‘ . 136** 
*|BayiCitys Mich. 292 “117, ~ 40.0. 46. 3% "25 9 
%|/Bloomington, Ill. 137 63 45.9 43 4 16 ‘ 
%||Boston, Mass. . 2404 349 14.5 245 oH etm II 
0||Buffalo, N. Y..1345 277 20.5 72 tan OO 73 
Baltimore, Md.1470 155 10.5 IIo 30) 4 6 
%||Brockton, Mass. 379 39 10.2 18 Page 14 . 
% Brookline, Mass. 232 103 44.4 32 6 64 I 
%|Burlington,Ia.. 129 10 ae 10 x : 
{Battle Cr’k, Mich. 130 33 25.4 20 6 3 4 
{Baton Rouge, La. 64 16 25.0 15 4 ‘ 
{Bingh’mt’n, N.Y. 113 18 15.9 4 : 4 10 
7Burlington, Vt.. 99 20 20.2 13 7 

*Camden, N.J. . 185 18 9.7 15 2 r 
*Cedar Rapids,Ia. 206+ 99 48.0 as 15 7 4 
*Charlest’n, W.Va. 127 33 25.6 19 14 


2||\Charleston, S.C. 183 55 30.0 24 29 I I 
*Charlotte, N. C.. 134. 60 44.0 50 4 5 5 
|Ch’tt’n’ga,Tenn,. 221 150 67.9 52 go 4 4 
||Chicago, Ill, . . 6387 1004 15.7. 484. 313.129 73 
*Clinton, Mass. . IIt 31 27.0 30 I ; 4 
*Cohoes, N. Y.. . 102 14 13.7 9 j 5 


||1906. #1907, t1908. _ [See foot note on page Io. gor- 
dinance prohibiting shingle roofs went into effect 1/1/09 

°Municipal year not coextensive with calendar year; 
major portion of report covers 1906. 1907 Or I908, accord- 
ing to mark. **Shingle roofs, *Eleven months only. 


17 


Ge ou a g v g = 
8 boopehb ears & 
oe ne ae 
a9 ao o 8S +s He ea 
Se. oh Fo BH Ba 28 83 
TOWN BR BR & Oh DO aN DO 
Cincinnati, O. .1194 248 20.7 164 57 24 3 
\|Concord, N. H.. 203 126 62.06 122 j 
*Columbia, S.C.. 82 21 25.6 15 4 I I 
+Carbondale, Pa. 31 10 32.2 6 Be eh IE 
fCarnegie, Pa... 17 4 23.3 I 2 I 
Col. Springs, Col. 242 46 19.0, Ig iS 22 ‘ 
tChicopee, Mass. 125 17. 13.6 II Cs sa 2 
tCleveland, O. . . 2234 433 19.4 56 377** 
tColumbus, O.. . 636 93 14.4 47 30 10 
tColumbus, Ga.. 143 76 53.1 12 62 2 ; 
tCorning, N. Y.. 112 37 33.4 15 a atte 5 
fCouncil Bluffs,Ia. 163 15 9.2 15 i : 5 
fCumberland,Md. 52 20 38.4 18 I I 
*Dallas, Tex. ... 428 88 20.5 79 9 
Danbury, Conn. 112 22 19.6 19 - ‘ 
*Dayton, ‘Ow, so 426» 5 102 23.9 55 34. Al 2 
*Des Moines, Ia.. 546 123 22 80 38 ‘ 5 


*Detroit, Mich. . 1604 307 19.1 IOI 55 42 109 
||Duluth, Minn. . 237 61 25.7 35 7 409 


*Decatur, Ill. . . 142 18 12.6 16 ss 2 
o\|Haston, Pa. .. 68 5 7.35, 5 ‘ . ‘ 
*Kau Claire, Wis. 138 54 39.1 37 LZ 540s 4 


*Elgin, Il. . 3. 94 12 12.7 9 3 2 ‘ 
\|Elizabeth, N. J. . 182 70 38.4 57 2 nm ID I 
*Hriey Pas. ts. , 195 58 29.7 20 12. ee aD 6 
*Evanston, Ill... 164 24 14.6 4 13 7 
{East St.Louis,Ill. 295 219 74.2 162 33 = 15 
+E1 Paso, Tex. . 166 14 8.4 9 I 
tElkhart, Ind... 175 85 48.5 45 30 9 
Tisbmite, No V3 225 37 16.3 15 RR 
+Evansville, Ind. 255 70 27.4 51 16 
*Fritchburg, Mass. 172 57 33.1 47 ; 10 
*Fonddu lac, Wis. 73 19 26.0 13 2 4 
tFremont, Neb.. 43 39 go.0 26 II 2 
*Galveston, Tex. 313 159 50.8 119 49 ax . 

||1906 *1907. f1908. WFire works. **Sparks from all 
sources. Municipal year not coextensive with calendar 
year; major portion of report covers 1906, 1907 or 1908, 
according to mark. 


Oo ewww” 


18 


¢ a 
& v B g 2 5 © 
g eo , 6S Res Ss 
~ ae aY og wh 
oot cg ie o on MEME Me 
oe ow Oo £ ra) = S| «nO FY 
5,64 5 “Eh 25 88 as 
TOWN BR BR & Of HO OA HO 
*Gd.Rapids, Mich. 388 32 8.2 I Tent 2 
tGloucester, Mass. 154 24 15.5 16 5 2 I 
{Gr’t Falls, Mont. 53 16 30.0 10 I 5 ‘ 
¢Green Bay, Wis. 95 9 9.4 4 RE 4 
*Haverhill, Mass. 309 31 10.0 23 6 I I 


*Hunt’gt’n, W.Va. 79 7 8.8 x A 
fHagerstown,Md. 35 13 S751 II ti 
+Hannibal, Mo., 122 60 49.1 42 16 2 F 
tHamilton, O.. . 196 71 36.2 17 20 20 14 
+HydePark, Mass. 130 87 66.9 55 5 25 2 
|[Indian’polis,Ind.1156 388 eo" 5 ee LOOT a0? 
*#ithacas UN ks. 2). as 6 13.9 6 a . 
||Jacksonville,Fla. 283 126 44.5 24 95 7 4 
*Jersey City, N.J. 900 191 21,25. 742 SiGe war 
tJackson, Miss. . 186 69 37.0 BOne 32 2 5 
tJanesville, Wis. 94 18 19.1 12 3 I 2 
TJOLEtvIT. HN... 150° 537 91.3 56 33 28 20 
tJoplin, Mo... . 223 28 126 5 20 “ 8 
*Knoxville,Tenn. 195 56 28.7 14.242 as “ 
*Kingston, N. Y.. I00 8 8.0 5 I 2 : 
tKansasCity,Kan. 440 121 2755 75 TO. 24 12 
{Kansas City, Mo.1972 267 13.5 100 48 62 57 
{Kingston, Ont. . 100 27 27.0 15 i a ee 
%|Lewiston, Me.. 152 79 #51.9 66 9 a4 4 
*La Crosse, Wis. . 181 71 59-23 50 TA ses ee < 
|/Lansing, Mich.. 98 27 27.5 14 I3y'h- 
*Lexington, red = 12 43 35.5 3 36 4 
*Limd;O. 6," 11g 37 31.0 35 A 2 
*Lockport, N. Y. Fase 67 10.0 I 3 
0*Los anfeies.Cal, 983 80 8.1 72 8 
3 


*Louisville, Ky.. 543 217 39.9 207 
\[Lynn, Mass. . . 653 77 ra yy 35 Io 9 23 
*Lowell, Mass. . 833 118 14.1 93 20 4 5 


*Logansport, Ind. 94 28 29.7 21 7 
tlancaster, Pa. . 48 5 10.4 5 ° d : 
tlarado, Tex... 24 9 37-5 4 I 2 a 
| perth het edna 164 27 16.4 24 3 ; 
tLebanon, Pa... 26 3 11.5 3 3 

||1906. *1907. +1908. Municipal year not eoeutentive 
with calendar year; major portion of report covers 1906 
1907, or 1908, according to mark, 


19 


a= 8s so 

3 88 , és 22 $8 

Hratese 23 a8 ae 

33 38 8 £8 8 %9 ue 

Sh Sh 95 (ee Be Bo as 

TOWN Be We Ay Om NU OH RO 

fLincoln, Neb. . 230 29 8 12.6 2 re ene & I 

ftLafayette,Ind.. 161 67 41.6 23 18. 26 4 

*Memphis, Tenn. 654 180 27.5 67 OS 55 4 

||Milwaukee, Wis.1480 203 I SIO" 79.. 18 4 

||Minn’p’lis,Minn.1259 | 231 18.3. 128 56. 41 6 

*Muskegon, Mich. 81 45 55-5 a2 15 5 3 

*Malden, Mass. . 193 27 13.9 27 

*Montclair, N.J. 57 8 14.0 8 ‘ 4 5 

|TManch’ter,N.H. 307 130 42.3. 119 7 3 I 
tMacon, Ga... . 167 72 43.1 24 43 5 

tMadison, Wis. . 143 49 34.2 43 5 I 2 

tMeriden,Conn.. 62 30 48.4 24 2 3 I 


tMauchChunk,Pa. 7 I 14.2 I : 7 
tMedford, Mass. . 113 15 13.2 5 7 2 I 
tMontg’m’ry,Ala. 308 136 44.1 40 g2 4 
{Millville, N.J. . 27 12 44.4 12 
fMuncie, Inds. 2.157" 117 74.5 109 2 


5 I 
TMoline, Ill. .. 89 51 57-3 22 18 3 g 
*Newark,O.... 84 12 14.2 6 5 I . 
*Newark, N.J. . 746 220 29.4 184 26 6 4 
\FNewburg, N. Y. 49 8 16.3 8 a 
''Newton, Mass. . 302 66 21.8 12 2 45 
\* Norwich, Conn. 122 55 45.0 44 I 9 I 
0*New B’sw’k,N.J. 88 5 5.6 5 3 2 . 
o%*New Brit’n,C’nn. 123 19 15.4 8 6 4 I 
|New H’v’n,C’nn, 596 = 105 17.6 76 : 29 J 
%*Norristown, Pa. 32 6 18.7 4 § 2 
*New R’h’lle,N.Y. 90 20 22.0 16 3 I 


New York:— 
i eeoeien sae 7320" 513 7-0 5 389% *I05* * 3x 8 

Brooklyn. . . 3851 469 12.50 355 73 27 9 
{Nanticoke, Pa.. 25 15 60.0 12 A 2 
yNashua, N. H. . 198 175 88.3 75 7O 30 
tNashville, Tenn. 433 158 36.4 gI 37 I 29 
tNewport, R.I. . 112 35 31.2 23 6. lawe§g 

||1906. *1907. T1908. 

Sparks from ie aro chimney ignited shingles 
on roof. Sparks from fire ignited roofs of several 
other buildings. 

§Sparks from 1 fire resulted in fire on 4 buildings. 

Municipal year not coextensive with calendar year; 
major portion of report covers 1906, 1907, or 1908, accord- 
ing to mark. Where marks indicate 2 years, report 
runs from July 1 to July 1. 


20 


Pay ry) 5 5 g g o 

g Mein ERE Se 

eh SSeOe ge he ge 

eo.se  ¢ Eo £353.58 

TOWN fh ee  & Om GOO 0O 

tNew Orleans, La. 693 67 9.6. 30 29 ents Ss = 

TN’wp’t News, Va. 110 48 44.0 38 5 4 I 

TNOLAO I a a Gy CON 26. Tek O2 F2 sett 13 

*Oshkosh, Wis. . 104 31 29.8 24 jets ; 

*Oswego, N. Y. . 109 30 27.5 6 II 3 10 
tOmaha, Neb... 403 66 16.3 28 31 7 

*Oakland, Cal. . 318 128 40.0. 55 53.0 5 15 

Wot Gity. ba... 260 18 29.3 P 2 A PLES 

tOrange, N. J. 83 31 37.3 20 3 5 3 


*P’keepsie, N. Y. Ico 43 43.0 37 6 
||Philadelphia,Pa.3392 601 18.0 246 199 156 
*Pittsfield, Mass. 88 26 29.5 25 : I : 
%|Paterson, N.J.. 182 115 63.2 gI Plate 5 


*Petersburg, Va. 58 27 46.5 23 4 
*Plainfield, N.J. 127 36 28.3, 31 5 
*Pottstown, Pa.. 30 13 43.3 7 F 6 ‘ 
#Peorin, Tl 7 oes 1358 94 2 Sa ae I 29 
*Portland, Ore. . 689 103 14.9 38 56 9 
*Pittsburg, Pa. .1390 251 18.0 133 72 46 
tPassaic, N. J... 108 6 5.5 4 2 
fP’rk’rsb’g, W.Va. 71 14 19.7 5 9 
tPerkasie, Pa... y 2 100.0 I ‘ J I 
tP’th Amboy,N.J. 48 8 16.6 7 : : si 
Portsmouth, Va. 59 21 36.0 16 5 3 
tPueblo, Colo... 247 81 S27, 32 7 27 22 


tPaducah, Ky. . 152 89 58.5 42 26 10 II 
{P’t Huron, Mich. 137 79° =57.6 ZA cee 27 e oe 2 
TFRa leigh, Ny Co 26. e7 26.1 2 5 


*Racine, Wis. .. 78 19 24.3 7 4 5 

*Reading, Pa... 164 39 23.6 26 10 3 3 
*Richmond, Va.. 353 838 24.9 60 8 8 12 
*Roanoke, Va. . 148 8 5.4 7 7 I - 
*Richmond, Ind. too 37 37.0 24 12 I 3 
||Rochester, N. Y. 638 78 12:2 47 0 Oe 4 


TRocky Mt., N.C. 4 4 100.0 I 3 . . 
tRock Island, Ill. 102 89 87.2 24 29 «10 26 
*Salem, Mass... 169 28 16.5 15 6 3 4 

1906. *1907. f1908. f1904 last report printed. 

13 fires resulting from bon fires. °Municipal year not 
coextensive with calendar year; major portion of report 
covers 1906, 1907, or 1908, according to mark, ‘Six 
months only. 


2I 


v 8 5 v ~ 
el 

8 FP , S285 SS 

% ba co) v »2 oa 

nm - 3 S BY, 8 a] =| M al 

so 52 8 #3 58 te 33 

O14 so. Sous Bs $6 83 

TOWN Be ee wm Of HO oY HO 

*Salt Lake City,U.-254 © 5220.4" 40 Io 2 

*San F’ncisco, Cal. 528  IgI 36.1 40 70 8 73 

*Savannah, Ga.. 240 78 32.5 41 ° 18 19 


Scranton, Pa. . 313 50 15.9 43 I 6 
*Shreveport, Ia. 199 81 40.7 20 Al ae, 
*Sedalia, Mo. .. 118 8 41 CT ey pote Se ¢2 ; 4 3 
WSioux City, Ia.. 728 65 89 19 14° 16 oes 


*South Bend, Ind. 72 54 76.0 40 fi 7 
O*Staunton, Va. . 39 8 20.5 5 gf: 

0’St. Louis, Mo. . 2545 461 18.I 354 86 | I9 2 
|[St. Paul, Minn. 880 235 267 158 24 35.. 18 
*Stillwater,Minn. 41 25 609 = 19 5 I 
*Sacramento, Cal. 238 75 STS es ay china ; 
*Springf’ld, Mass. 435 7 T5-4Ok 57 5 5 : 
*Spokane, Wash. 356 &2 23.0 73 5 3 I 
*Seattle, Wash.. 563 56 9.9 17 33.5 ut I 
*Superior, Wiss 218 86) gorda eae 36 £ 
*Sheboygan, Wis. 93 9 g.6 2 3 . 
tSch’n’ct’dy, N.¥. 257 45 17.5 32 5 3 
{Springfield, Mo. 161 10 61025,.97. 9 J 
{St. Cloud, Minn. 36 19 Soy 12 2 3 
tSyracuse, N. Y. 3c9 = 38 9.5 29 2 . 


*Tacoma, Wash. 382 191 50.0 165 13 
“Topeka, Kans. . 181 68 37.5 10 10 


MH 
WOWENHN TNH HUD’ 
~ 


O|/Trenton, N.J.. 187 33 17.6 13 13 3 
|[Toledo, O. . 676 99 14.6 §5* P21 5 
*Taunton, Mass. . 244 39 15.6 29 7 § 
fTampa, Fla. .. 149 37 24.8 18 12 a 7 
+Terre Haute,Ind. 305 94 30.8 47 a7. SO 4 
*Utica,-N. Y. . 46233 31 13:3 16 5 6 4 
*Waltham, Mass, 135 28 20.7 10 3 7 8 
O*Williamsp’t, Pa. 106 32 30.2 22 7 3 . 
*Wilmingt’n, N.C. 151 84 55.6 38 43 3 5 
a Worcest’r, Mass. 953 166 17.4" 3523 17418 8 
Woonsock’t, R.I. 153 35 22.8 24 2 9 4 
o*Wat’rb’ry,Conn. 188 55 29.2 41 I 3 10 
0*Winona, Minn. . 102 36 ac 2 13 19 4 ; 
+Washington, D.C 173" 2119 68.7 89 24 5 I 
+Wilkesbarre, Pa. 122 25 20.5 17 5 mz ; 
tW’lla W’lla,Wsh, 85 30 35.3 23 I 6 ; 
+Watertown, Wis. 12 2 16.6 2 P ‘ 
tWheeling, W.Va. 206 68 33.3 F . . 
*Yonkers, N. Y.. 322 50 15.5 43 - - 
TYOrk) Pac. eons 57 22 38.6 10 3 


T1902 to 1995. §1904. “1905. ||1906. *1907. tig08, 

Municipal year not coextensive with calendar year; 
major portion of report covers 1906, 1907, or 1908, accord- 
ing to mark. 


22 


“The economy of a Genuine Bangor Slate 
Roof is evidenced in the strongest light when 
a building is torn down. .In such a case the 
slate on it can be used again, being just as 
good as new. But in buildings with any other 
roofing the latter is then either absolutely 
worthless or very much “second-hand.” 


Caution 


‘¢ Slate’ is a general name like ‘‘ lumber.”’ 

There is as much difference between slate and 
slate as between hemlock and oak. Genuine 
Bangor Slate Co.’s slate is the highest grade of 
slate sold at reasonable prices. Its superiority 
is attested by the numerous attempts of other 
slate producers to imitate our trade name and 
trade mark. We, therefore, found it necessary 
to protect our patrons by issuing a Warranty 
(see facsimile below) with each shipment. 
Your roofer will be glad to show you this 
document. 


rd 


pea 





Genuine Bangor Slate put on 60 years ago 
(when first marketed) is today as good as new— 
the best reason for insisting on it. Ask for the 
Warranty. It is an ‘“‘ insurance policy ’”’ of dur- 
ability and economy for your roof. 


23 


A Roof of Genuine Bangor Slate Co’s. Slate 
outlives the Building 
without Paint or Repairs. 


Avoids all Roof Troubles: 


It won’t wear away. 

It won’t rust. 

It won’t decay. 

It won’t crack. 

It won’t tear. 

It won't chip. 

It won’t warp. 

It won’t disintegrate. 

It won’t crumble away. 

It won’t burn. 

It won’t melt like a tar or 
asphalt roof. 

It won’t be affected by 
acids, gases or other sub- 
stances. 

It won’t be affected by any 
climatic changes or con- 
ditions. 


It won’t require solder 
that may melt. 


It won’t require seams, 
joints or “‘interlocking”’ 
grooves that rot or get 
out of order. 

It won’t need repairs. 


It won’t need paint to pre- 
serve it. 


It won't need paint to 
make it look neat, clean 
and attractive. 


It won’t lose its rich ar- 
chitectural appearance, 
no matter how long on 
the roof, 


It won’t absorb moisture 
or anything else. 


It won’t rattle like atin 
roof. 


It won’t retain snow or 
similar loads. 


It won’t contract or ex- 
pand from heat or cold. 


It won’t increase the load 
on your beams by being 
water-soaked. 


It won’t shrink. 
It won’t retain dampness. 


It won’t rot your roof 
timbers. 


It won’t be blown off by 
high winds. 


It won’t permit the growth 
of moss or other decay- 
ing vegetable matter. 


It won’t allow impurities 
to get into your cistern 
water. 


It won’t attract lightning. 


It won’t need an excessive- 
ly strong, hence expen- 
sive roof frame, like tile. 


It won’t easily be dam- 
aged, being so strong 
that itis the only roof- 
ing shipped without 
packing, boxingor 
wrapping of any kind. 


It won’t cost you as much 
as any other roofing. 


000‘000‘zez$—‘Funoure 
yey} sfenbe gOGgI ul efeurep omy yenjoe 
24, {dn pouing usveq pey emoyesyO pue 


OoIxeP] MOQ] ‘epeaony ‘Vureqeiy ‘sesueyHIy jo 
$9}38}]g 24} Ur Aysodo1g jyeoy cInUS 34} 
yey? Plo} Jf peyisoy oq nod z,upjnoM 





“What can I do to stem the fire 
‘siete ” you will ask; “I am only ? 
one.” 


It will pay everybody to help, both from a 
selfish and unselfish point of view. 


And here’s how you can help: 


Talk about it to your friends, to house- 
owners, etc., particularly when about to build, 


to rent or when repairs are necessary. 


Bear these facts in mind when you re-roof 


or build. 


A Genuine Bangor Slate Roof 
will make even a frame building 


more fire-resisting, 


and (being a non-porous, hence non-absorbent 
mineral) will outlive it without paint or re- 
pairs. 


Can you ask more of a roof? 


Further particulars free on request. 


Genuine Bangor Slate Co. 


Easton, Pa. e oe Es 





bogd 


